Calaveras (San Francisco Bay Area) Singer-songwriters Greg Beattie and Victoria Blythe, along with instrumentalist Dave Decker, combine voices and a half dozen acoustic instruments into original songs that are both fresh and timeless--from the roots of American traditional song forms to explorations of contemporary sounds. Their songs have captured the prestigious Kerrville New Folk prize, grand prize in the West Coast Songwriters International song contest as well as first place in two additional categories, the Napa Valley Emerging Songwriter award, West Coast Songwriter’s Association Song of the Year honors, and have appeared in TV shows and movies. Their songs have been recorded by other artists and on numerous compilations with such well known artists as Joan Baez and Cheryl Wheeler. Their live show is a mix of Victoria’s soaring, ethereal vocals and hauntingly beautiful fiddle on pure folk ballads and sultry jazz-fusion torch songs, Greg’s energetic and insightful musical treatment of birth, death and everything in between, and Dave’s constantly creative lead-guitar commentary. Their new album, Green Girl, is the culmination of nearly 10 years of writing, performing and dreaming since their prior release--songs that are varied but genuine representations of the many roads travelled to get here. Also heard on the album are Bass wizard Sam Bevan, the insanely talented (and sometimes insane) Joe Craven, god of the high guitar Tim Ellis, always-tasteful Jim Norris on drums, and many others. The album was engineered and co-produced by John Jacob, whose persistence, patience, good judgment and good heart made the process a pleasure.
